The last two days sure have been nice as far as "walking outdoors" goes! Yes, I know it's been a little brisk outside, but at least the sun has been shining and the roads are dry, which makes it much safer than walking on winter snow and ice. On those days, I definitely appreciate that I can walk indoors on my treadmill, especially because for a few years we never owned one. In fact, when I started my new lifestyle in 2001, I just couldnt afford to purchase a treadmill so I walked outdoors during winter, spring, summer, and fall – NO excuses!

But there were a few days when Mother Nature “won the battle” – keeping me inside when she arranged for a severe thunderstorm or a winter blizzard!  So, since I didn’t have a treadmill AND I refused to allow any excuses to stop me from exercising, I became a little creative.  These were the times when I listened to my favorite country music while running in place or slowly jogged around the basement for 22 minutes… or I did something that I enjoyed the most: I would JUST DANCE!  For about a half an hour (about 9 songs), I would dance to some very upbeat songs making sure to continuously move the entire time.  That meant NO resting or sitting down if I became tired… just like I never rested or sat down if I became tired while briskly walking – NEVER!

Remember, I was focusing on becoming healthy and losing weight, something that is not accomplished by finding excuses.  “Where there’s a will, there’s a way!”  And my way was to exercise each and every day, no matter what!

And I want you to make it YOUR way also, and please do not come up with an excuse why you can’t exercise!  Always remember that living a healthy lifestyle includes physical activity… and it can be fun – a LOT of fun!  Tell me, when is the last time you “cranked up the music” and just danced?  It was enjoyable, wasn’t it?  Well, do it again!

We each must focus on living a healthy lifestyle – we only have this one life and one body… we need to take care of it!  And there is no reason you can’t have FUN while doing that; in fact, today I will add another line of lyrics which will help you out.  How about:

“On the Ninth Day of Christmas, my true love gave to me…
Nine SONGS FOR DANCING
Eight WATER BOTTLES
Seven HOURS OF SLUMBER
Six WORDS WORTH REMEMBERING ~ Know that I BELIEVE IN YOU
Five SPANDEX TANKS
A Four-leg’d PRECIOUS  DOG
Three TYPES OF TEA
Two WALKING SHOES
And a PEDOMETER to count steps daily!”

So for today I suggest that you clip on that pedometer (striving to hit 3,000 “dance steps”), tie on those walking shoes, put on your favorite spandex tank top / leggings, enjoy a nice cup of green tea, turn up your favorite music, and just dance!  Oh, and have a GREAT WEEKEND too!  I’ll see you back here on Monday ~ Jodi